Outdoor Learning

 Play underpins children’s communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. Through play, children learn to negotiate, take turns, and build independence and resilience. Play in Early Years Foundation Stage sets the foundation – but it shouldn’t stop there!

Research shows that play enhances creativity, critical thinking, and motivation, all key skills for lifelong learning. Children who engage in purposeful play often show greater engagement and confidence in academic work too.  

At St Alban & St Stephen, our Little Seeds, Big Wonder initiative means that all children, whatever age, have the chance to engage in purposeful play and spend time in our beautiful outdoor environment. 

Little Seeds, Big Wonder Lunchtimes

'We have a sand shed outside and we can build sandcastles.' Nursery

'We have to work together to hold the big sticks up, or the roof will go bash on our heads!' - Reception

'I love getting muddy in the Mud Kitchen, I make mud pies with the mud and mix it with water.' -Year 2

'I like that we have so many different things to do at playtime. There are lots of clubs you can go to. We even have a little library outside so we can read outside if we want to.'  Year 4

Pupil Voice

Every lunchtime, children on our upper and lower sites can choose from a wide range of exciting activities, including ball games, climbing and balancing on the playground equipment, building dens, playing in the mud kitchen, and engaging in small-world play. Learning during lunchtime is child-initiated, and children from different year-groups can mix and play together. On our upper site, children with an interest in the environment can work with our pupil eco-warriors in our eco area to plant and weed our vegetable beds. If our older pupils want a little quiet time, there are a range of drop-in clubs, such as Drawing Club or Board Games Club. The upper site library is often open at lunchtimes, or you can borrow a book from our Little Outdoor Library.

Our pupil Sports Ambassadors help to organise sports and ball games for those children who want to join in. If there are disagreements, our Year 5 and 6 Squabble Squashers are on hand to provide peer mediation and ensure that friendships can be mended and the fun can continue! 

Miss Sophia, our Environmental Tutor

 Miss Sophia, our dedicated Environmental Tutor, visits the school every fortnight to lead inspiring outdoor learning sessions, from British bird-watching to planting bulbs, giving pupils hands-on experiences with nature. She also runs family “green-fingered” volunteer days, bringing our community together to transform and care for our school grounds. Her passion for the environment sparks curiosity, teamwork, and a love of God’s creation in all who take part. This wonderful opportunity for the children is funded by our generous PTA.

You can read an interview with Miss Sophia here: 

Interview with Miss Sophia

 Useful Links

 ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’

'How to build a den: outdoor activity for kids'

Den building is a fantastic activity for all ages. You can do it at any time of year!

 How to Build a Den - Kids' Outdoor Activity - Woodland Trust